How to remove scratches from polished stainless steel

Polished stainless steel is used for a wide variety of products, some of which include flatware, large and small kitchen appliances and cookware. Although polished stainless steel is durable and stain-resistant, it also is susceptible to scratches due to normal wear and tear. Bring your unsightly, scratched stainless steel surface back to life by implementing a few basic hand-buffing steps that will remove most surface scratches. Deep scratches and gouges in the polished stainless steel surface will require the service of professionals.

Set a bright flashlight to shine on the surface of the stainless steel, and examine the polished surface. Note the direction of the grain. If you have trouble setting the flashlight up in a location that will give you adequate light, have a friend shine the flashlight onto the work surface.

Clean the polished stainless steel surface with a dampened lint-free cloth. Use a dry lint-free cloth to dry the area.

Dip a nonabrasive 180-grit pad into water to moisten. Sprinkle a tiny amount of abrasive cleaner onto the wet, nonabrasive pad. Wipe the nonabrasive pad over the surface of the scratch, rubbing gently with the grain of the stainless steel.

Continue to rub the pad over the scratched area, applying light pressure, until it blends in to the surrounding stainless steel or disappears completely. For slightly deeper scratches, switch to a pad with a little more grit, and keep rubbing with light pressure with the grain of the stainless steel.

Place a drop of stainless steel polishing solution onto a clean, soft cloth. Rub the polishing solution over the surface, using small, circular motions. Continue to buff the area until no polishing solution remains on the cloth, and the surface area blends into the surrounding stainless steel.

Rinse the area free of abrasive cleaner, using clean water. Wipe the stainless steel dry with the lint-free cloth.

Apply a small dab of the stainless steel scratch remover onto the included pad. Begin rubbing the cleaner onto the scratch, working with the direction of the grain.

Continue to rub the stainless steel scratch remover onto the surface until the scratch is no longer visible.

Apply the included stainless steel polish as directed by the scratch remover kit.

Tip

Before you begin to remove scratches from polished stainless steel, make sure the product is actually stainless steel and not a synthetic overlay.

Tips and warnings

Before you begin to remove scratches from polished stainless steel, make sure the product is actually stainless steel and not a synthetic overlay.